Oli Rockberger and Femi Temowo get soulful at Le Caprice

As most professional musicians know – the restaurant gig can be one of the most challenging playing environments out there – no matter who you are or what the restaurant. Thus this second in a monthly series of gigs running through until August was a case in point, hosted at the highly regarded London eaterie Le Caprice who have partnered up with Jazz FM and Martell cognac to present a high-calibre selection of jazz artists. Tonight it’s British-born, New York-based singer songwriter and jazz keyboardist Oli Rockberger who has made a special trip to both London, and then on to Germany where he’s set to launch his latest song-laden LP Old Habits, here joined by hugely experienced guitarist (and solo artist in his own right) Femi Temowo.

Rockberger’s burgeoning reputation as both a skilled sideman to the likes of trumpeter Randy Brecker and drummer Steve Gadd, as well as one third of ultra-hip electro jazz trio Mister Barrington and a solo singer songwriter (who’s also composing for an increasingly starry number of artists) all came to bear here in what was a spirited performance, in spite of having an uphill battle to persuade the packed restaurant that if they were to lower their conversations a little they’d actually hear some great music. Although the duo received plenty of hearty applause at the end of each tune.

Once Temowo joined him the pair’s effortless rapport soon paid dividends as the guitarist slipped between slinky blues, gospel and twisting jazz solos – while also emphasising Rockberger’s innate funky grooves that bubble below his most infectious melodies. Indeed while the keyboardist’s music can at first seem squarely aimed at the more accessible end of jazz-influenced soul and rock, many of his tunes are peppered with sly harmonic twists and don’t want for intelligent lyrical content either.

Highlights included the chugging reggae groove of ‘Queen Of Evasion’ with Temowo’s easy going grin perfectly matching his intuitive guitar lines, while a new tune, ‘Ridiculous’, saw Oli grabbing a melodica to really show off his jazz chops. This energised display began to also grab the attention of the room, not least due to the instrument’s wobbling flexible tube down which he was blowing, and at one point he even began to double his right hand lines on the red plastic instrument with his left on the keyboard for a precariously impressive solo. Bringing the set to a close with another rousing new tune, ‘Let’s Stay Home’, it’s clear that beneath the accessibly honed exterior of many of his songs lurks a hugely versatile musician capable of both delivering melodically savvy jazz improv and killer hook-laden tunes, with longstanding colleague Temowo a deftly dynamic foil. Le Caprice has a well deserved reputation as one of London’s finest restaurants yet if they want to present music that matches the quality and class of their menu, without selling the music or themselves short, a small bit of musical house-keeping would elevate the whole dining-while-listening experience for all concerned.